The Journal Sentinel published an Inauguration Day "Extra" edition of the newspaper available while supplies last at Walgreens and Pick 'n Save stores in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Washington and Ozaukee counties. Packages including the Sunday, Tuesday Extra and Wednesday commemorative newspapers can be ordered online.

Washington - "At Last" might have been just what President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were thinking Tuesday night as they glided through their first inaugural dance to the Etta James classic sung by Beyoncé.

The Obamas were the star attraction at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of 10 inaugural celebrations that they planned to attend, going into the early hours of today.

Obama cut loose in a faster groove a few minutes later, as Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill and Mariah Carey sang along with Stevie Wonder to his "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." The song was played at nearly every one of Obama's rallies throughout the campaign.

"You could tell that's a black president from the way he was moving," comedian Jamie Foxx joked after the dance.

The president wore a white tie, while Michelle shimmered in a white, one-shouldered, floor-length gown. It was embellished from top to bottom with white floral details and made by 26-year-old New York designer Jason Wu.

"First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" Obama asked the crowd.

Later, at the Obama Home States Inaugural Ball, Obama addressed the crowd in the dialects of the Hawaii and Illinois contingents: "Aloha. What's going on?"

At the Midwestern Ball, Rep. Gwen Moore strutted in a long black ball gown and sparkling chandelier earrings.

"I've been dancing the happy dance," she said.

Singer Sheryl Crow performed for thousands in the crowd from Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere in the region. Crow opened one of her hit songs, "Strong Enough," by saying "Oh, Mr. President . . . are you strong enough to be my man?"

Rep. Tammy Baldwin also was in attendance, wearing a flowing black gown.

"It's so great to see so many Wisconsin people come out here to participate," she said.

Niel Ritchie, who has a cabin in Hayward, called the ball perfect.

"We've never been to an event like this. . . . Sheryl Crow, how good is that?"

After Crow played, Vice President Joe Biden appeared with his wife, Jill, to address the party-goers, speaking of the country's ability to "change our future."

"Today, we witnessed history. Tomorrow, Barack and I are going to begin to make history," Biden said.

Salute to military

At the Commander in Chief Ball, Obama and Biden each saluted the nation's military men and women via satellite. Biden said he wasn't looking forward to his moment in the spotlight - the dancing, that is.

"The thing that frightens me the most (is) I'm going to have to stand in that circle and dance in a minute," he said. At that, he laughed and did a quick sign of the cross.

The Obamas were more enthusiastic, splitting up to dance with Marine Sgt. Elidio Guillen of Madera, Calif., who was shorter than Michelle, and Army Sgt. Margaret H. Herrera, who cried in the president's arms.

In a sign of the tough economic times, ball-goers who had paid anywhere from $75 for a ticket to thousands more for a package deal had to buy their own drinks served in small plastic cups.

People waited in line over an hour at Union Station to get into the Eastern States Ball. Because of limited seating at the Western Ball, a number of attendees in long gowns and fancy suits plopped cross-legged on the floor.

"This is what happens in a down economy. No chairs, no highboys - it's the floor and plastic cups," said Brig Lawson, 38, of Las Vegas.

Diana Marrero of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.